Day Skipper Theory
This theory course teaches budding skippers the principles that are essential for safe handling of a yacht. It is highly recommended for anyone wanting to advance to the RYA Day Skipper Practical (Sail) course. If you have completed the RYA Competent Crew (Sail) or Helmsman (Power) course, or have previous cruising or dinghy sailing experience, and want to experience the thrill of being in control of a yacht, then this is the next logical step.
Navigational chartwork
There are many routes to achieving this course and which you choose will depend upon your personal learning style and your availability. You may study our Day Skipper Theory Online, or for those short of time who prefer one-to-one contact with an instructor you may choose the nine day intensive Day Skipper Theory and Day Skipper Practical option, or the traditional five day Day Skipper Theory shorebased course.
We are the preferred supplier to the Port of Gibraltar, and all local maritime companies have chosen to take their Day Skipper Theory course with us, this includes the Royal Gibraltar Police Maritime section and Customs.
Traditional five day Day Skipper Theory shorebased course
Allabroad is the only Gibraltar based RYA Training Centre that has invested in its own on-site facilities, situated in Marina Bay, a stone’s throw from our fleet. The RYA state that all theory courses must be run in suitable location with teaching aids and enough space for chart work. We designed our air-conditioned twelve person classroom with maritime courses in mind and equipped it with everything you would expect to see in a modern facility.
Nine day Intensive RYA Day Skipper Theory & Practical course
Suitable for those who are short of time, but like to maximise their achievements. This course starts on a Saturday morning and comprises four days studying Day Skipper Theory in our clasroom and five days of Day Skipper Practical cruising finishing on Sunday afternoon. This RYA approved course format awards both RYA Day Skipper Theory and RYA Day Skipper Practical certificates. There are no shortcuts—just high quality tuition in the correct environment.
Classroom equipment
Course summary
- Syllabus Summary
- Nautical terminology
- Rope work and knots
- Anchor work
- Safety, including basic fire safety and fire fighting
- Collision avoidance
- Position, course and speed
- Navigational chartwork
- Variation and deviation
- Dead Reckoning
- Estimated position including an awareness of leeway
- Satellite derived positions and the use of waypoints to fix positions
- Course to steer
- Tidal heights, tidal streams and tidal diamonds
- Determining height of tide at standard ports
- Awareness of corrections for secondary ports
- Meteorology
- Passage planning
- Pilotage
- Minimum pre-course experience & assumed knowledge
- Some practical experience is desirable (the equivalent of five days) but is not absolutely essential.
- Duration
- 40 hours, plus exam time. That’s five days classroom study, or about 40 hours online, plus exam time.
- Certificate
- RYA Day Skipper Shorebased. Awarded upon successful completion of the final assessment paper. The assessment paper is split into two sections: one is a general paper and the other is chart work. Each paper has a time limit of 1 ½ hours.
- Price
- Five day Shorebased course is £295.
- Nine day intensive theory and practical course:
- Sail Standard
- £790
- Sail Masterclass Option
- £990
- Power Standard
- £1090
